LAGOS IS NOT A ‘NO MAN’S LAND’ BUT…

AZUKA ONWUKA

http://www.punchng.com/opinion/lagos-is-not-a-no-mans-land-but/

One statement that riles the Yoruba is that Lagos is a no man’s land, which comes mainly from the Igbo residents in the city. The impression that statement gives them is that Lagos is a land that nobody owns. They see it as an attempt to take away what belongs to them. According to Oxford Dictionaries, “no man’s land” means “disputed ground between the front lines or trenches of two opposing armies” or “a piece of unowned land or wasteland.”

But Lagos State is someone’s land. Without going into the history of Lagos, one knows that there are traditional institutions and rites in Lagos that only the “sons of the soil” can participate in. For example, Lagos communities have traditional rulers called baale or oba: only sons of the soil of the respective communities can aspire to such positions.

However, that is not the end of the story. Lagos is a unique state, especially given its status as a former federal capital of Nigeria cum seat of government for 77 years: January 1914 to November 1991. That status has given it a different feel from all other cities in Nigeria. It is not because it is by the sea: Calabar and Port Harcourt are also by the sea, but they are not like Lagos. Contrary to the fallacy spread by some people, Calabar was never the capital of Nigeria. Calabar once served as the seat of government of the Niger Coast Protectorate, Southern Protectorate and Oil River Protectorate. Similarly, neither Lokoja nor Zungeru was ever the capital of Nigeria. They were respectively the capital of the British protectorate of Northern Nigeria.

The boom that Abuja has experienced since 1991 when Gen. Ibrahim Babangida moved the seat of government from Lagos is a pointer to the effect the Federal Capital Territory status can have on a city. But even Abuja cannot compare with Lagos because it was purpose-built to be an FCT, and therefore has no space for industrial estates and markets in all nooks and crannies of the city like Lagos.

However, even those who call Lagos no man’s land don’t mean that Lagos does not indigenously belong to anybody. When you ask them what “no man’s land” means, you realise that what they mean is that Lagos is home to every Nigerian. It is a mini Nigeria. It is a place where all Nigerians feel they have a stake in because the funds of Nigeria helped in developing it, and its status as an FCT attracted more attention from Nigerians and foreigners than other states. Consequently, it is the most developed part of the nation.

Even though Enugu, Ibadan and Kaduna were the respective capitals of Eastern Region, Western Region, and Northern Region from the pre-Independence days until 1967, they cannot compare to Lagos in any sphere.

No doubt, as a city that is situated by the sea shore, Lagos has been developing from time immemorial. However, when it was made the capital of Nigeria, its development accelerated. The boost was such that even after the seat of government was relocated to Abuja, Lagos did not feel the impact much because the biggest companies and markets in Nigeria as well as infrastructure like bridges and roads had already been established, which had in turn made the state the most densely populated in the nation. These are not things you can relocate with the seat of government.

And more importantly, Lagos has not been known to be a place where religious or ethnic crises occur. There can be crisis from street urchins, or motor park touts, or street gangs, but people are not usually attacked based on their ethnicity or religion, except for the ill-informed actions of the O’odua People’s Congress against the Hausa community in 1999/2000.

Lagos State is in the South-West, and the South-West is the land of the Yoruba. Therefore, Lagos is Yoruba land. But it goes beyond that. Lagos derives its progress from its metropolitan and cosmopolitan nature. There are Nigerians who will tell you that beside their home state, they can only live in Abuja or Lagos, because of the FCT status, past and present. They don’t want to be in a place where they would feel like second-class citizens or people who are ever conscious of going against any local tradition.

However, there are two sets of people that don’t mean well for Lagos. One group is the Yoruba who feel that the non-Yoruba in Lagos, especially the Igbo, must owe the air they breathe to the Yoruba: they must not raise their head; they must not laugh loud; they must not criticise any government policy in Lagos; they must not vote for any candidate of their choice; they must not contest elections in Lagos. If they default on any of these, they are threatened with expulsion or violence.

The other group is the Igbo who tell the Yoruba that the Igbo developed Lagos, and that without the Igbo, Lagos would be a ghost town, and Lagosians would die of hunger. That is a silly statement to make. Although only a lover of falsehood would say that the Igbo have not contributed handsomely to the development of Lagos, yet Lagos has been developing at its own pace from time immemorial. If the Igbo did not settle in Lagos or invest in it, it would have continued to develop at its own pace. Lagos does not owe its success to the Igbo or any one ethnic group.

The excuse these two dangerous groups always give is that the other group started the ethnic baiting. But that is a lie. An ethnic supremacist is an ethnic supremacist. The same goes for an ethnic intolerant person or a bigot. Such people don’t need any provocation to unleash the venom in them. They only pray for an opportunity to present itself. Phrases like “you people” dot their speeches. Whenever a person speaks, they usually don’t attack the person’s speech: they swiftly malign the person’s ethnic group. It does not matter to them that the person does not speak on behalf of any ethnic group. Sometimes, they will be quick to tell you that they don’t hate the ethnic group they are bashing but “are simply speaking the truth.” They may even remind you that they have friends from that ethnic group or have family members who are married to people from that ethnic group.

These dangerous elements must not be allowed to destroy the peace and harmony in Lagos. There is a difference between “citizen” and “indigene”. Every Nigerian is a citizen in every part of Nigeria. But not every Nigerian is an indigene of wherever he or she resides. Every Nigerian can vote and be voted anywhere in Nigeria. That is what distinguishes a Nigerian from a Ghanaian who lives in Nigeria.

Nigerians feel happy any time they hear that a person with Nigerian ancestry has won a political position in Europe or North America, but some ethnic haters feel angry whenever they hear that a Nigerian has won an election in his or her state of residence. Their narrow argument is: “Can you allow that to happen in your state?” But comparing a state like Lagos – a former FCT — with another Nigerian state is baseless. Lagos can only somewhat be compared with Abuja, the FCT. If you want to compare states, compare Oyo with Enugu, Ogun with Anambra, Ekiti with Ebonyi, etc.

Secondly, when a people have a large population in a community, it becomes easier for them to win local elections there. That is why the Yoruba win local elections in the London Borough of Southwark, United Kingdom, where Peckam is located. If a large number of the Yoruba or Hausa or Ijaw settle in Nnewi or Aba, they can win elections there. It is only natural.

And when a “non-indigene” wins an election, such should not be seen as a threat or an affront. It is actually a blessing. Such cities where settlers participate in governance are always ahead in all developmental indices. They attract people. They attract investors. They continue to grow faster. That is why Lagos is miles ahead of other states. That is why Lagos is self-sustaining even though it has no oil. Human resource is the greatest resource on earth. Human beings gather where the conditions are good, where they are not continuously threatened or intimidated, where they are free to operate within the laws of the state and the nation.

Those who love Lagos and want its progress must not allow those who are short-sighted to disrupt the peace and progress of Lagos.

Eko o ni baje o!

Copyright PUNCH.

Beautiful write up. Lagos actually belongs to a set of people. But they dont have to rub it on other people's faces. Other people coming to Lagos also should try and blend without issues.

Please let's move on and make the Nigeria a country of our dreams.

my brother what i noticed again about the igbo in lagos is that they always act aggressive when ever they go into minor argument with other tribes expecially the yoruba's. Why is that?

Nice write up.

agabusta:
Beautiful write up. Lagos actually belongs to a set of people. But they dont have to rub it on other people's faces. Other people coming to Lagos also should try and blend without issues.

Please let's move on and make the Nigeria a country of our dreams.

Igbos should stop chanting Lagos is a no man's land too. If not because Yorubas are tolerant, what is happening in SA would have happened long time in Lagos. You can't tell the zulus their land is no man's land

sheymoni:


Igbos should stop chanting Lagos is a no man's land too. If not because Yorubas are tolerant, what is happening in SA would have happened long time in Lagos. You can't tell the zulus their land is no man's land

My friend shut up.. Lagos is a no mans land.
If you talk too much about it the Igbos will even take it away from the yorubas and chase dem out like we did to hausas in kano during the last crisis..
Look at ur mouth like "xenophobia" in South africa

complete mixture of sense and nonsense

Cholls:
my brother what i noticed again about the igbo in lagos is that they always act aggressive when ever they go into minor argument with other tribes expecially the yoruba's. Why is that?

it's because Yoruba are trouble makers. Imagine dem forcing igbos on whom to vote in the last election..

agabusta:
Beautiful write up. Lagos actually belongs to a set of people. But they dont have to rub it on other people's faces. Other people coming to Lagos also should try and blend without issues.

Please let's move on and make the Nigeria a country of our dreams.

Lagos is no man's land.

sheymoni:


Igbos should stop chanting Lagos is a no man's land too. If not because Yorubas are tolerant, what is happening in SA would have happened long time in Lagos. You can't tell the zulus their land is no man's land

Quote me anywhere, If there's xenophobic fight in Lagos, igbos will slaughter more Yorubas because their population is higher than that of Yorubas.

wonderful write up.
I don't comment on any thread that I sense will bring tribal bashing but I must confess that this is a thread that make sense.

chuna1985:



it's because Yoruba are trouble makers. Imagine dem forcing igbos on whom to vote in the last election..

my brother well i respect your view.

kobokokabaka:


My friend shut up.. Lagos is a no mans land.
If you talk too much about it the Igbos will even take it away from the yorubas and chase dem out like we did to hausas in kano during the last crisis..
Look at ur mouth like "xenophobia" in South africa

the problem with ibo is that 40percent of them are slaves such as osu,ofu,wawa,known as rejected slaves,they are the people claiming to be native of lagos.

chuna1985:




Quote me anywhere, If there's xenophobic fight in Lagos, igbos will slaughter more Yorubas because their population is higher than that of Yorubas.

And they are still closing down your market and enslaving you in Yoruba land? Na war o!'

So why don' t you declare Lagos Igbo land? I dont blame you our foolish elders went to sleep and over tolerated you.

How many of you can afford to go home? Yet most of you are poor pitiful souls stuck in a single room somewhere in Ajegunle, Agege, Okoko etc. etc.

Nice write up...but I know you wont get much likes for this masterpiece cos quite a lot of people on this froum igbo, yourba and other tribes inclusive reason through thier mouth.

Lagos indigene are of the yourba tribe....fact.!!!......and it was the former capital of Nigeria...a fact. so every citizen of Nigeria is quite free to reside in any part of Nigeria including madugari or Yobe.

Lagos was the former seat of govt for more than 60 years, all Nigerians irrespective of tribe should be free to reside, work and carry out legitmate business in lagos as long as Nigeria remains one....but the fact remains there are indigenes of lagos. LAGOS IS LAGOS STATE...not ogun, ekiti, rivers or Abia.......This issue of our land is over flogged!

Writing long articles will not change the status of Lagos as "no mans land".

Lagos is a no mans land. Whether they like it or not...... Allow us to form Biafra una no gree, una talk say una love for us plenty sooteey, oya i come lagos as a forced one oilgerian and a drunk man from somewhere near a bin will threaten his unborn generation to be thrown to lagoon.... Eko A no man's land o

chuna1985:




Quote me anywhere, If there's xenophobic fight in Lagos, igbos will slaughter more Yorubas because their population is higher than that of Yorubas.

And yet your preferred candidates [Jimi Agbaje & Bob Okey Okoroji] couldn't win the gubernatorial election?

My friend, you're a peruvian lizard. There can never be peace between Yoruba & Igbo.

chuna1985:




Quote me anywhere, If there's xenophobic fight in Lagos, igbos will slaughter more Yorubas because their population is higher than that of Yorubas.

I can bet you that yo do not reside in Lag.

We can not shy away from the truth that Lagos is ancestrally Yorubas. l want someone to prove me otherwise with a researched history that proves other Nigerian tribes held sway there in terms of leadership wayback to the 1800's as l know only of Oba Kosoko, Oba Dosunmu etc.

Like seriously, why are you guys this much bent on tagging Lagos a "no man's land"? It costs nothing to acknowledge Lagos as a Yoruba land. Abi shey u don ever see land wey no get lord before?

The writer is still wrong, half truth is still a lie!

What does he/she mean by " Lagos does not owe its success to igbo or any ethnic group? It doesn't to igbo alright!

Lagos owes its success to one ethnic group, and that's Yoruba!

chuna1985:




Lagos is no man's land.

No need arguing with u. When u move around Lag interacting wt people, taking in the sights, sound and the different streets and places, nobody need tell u the owners of the land.

chuna1985:




Quote me anywhere, If there's xenophobic fight in Lagos, igbos will slaughter more Yorubas because their population is higher than that of Yorubas.

Buhahahaha. Chime Chukwuma is drunk. Yeebhoes has more population than Yoruba in Lagos. Ahahahahaha. See what malaria can cause to the body. Lmaoo

brize:
Lagos is a no mans land. Whether they like it or not...... Allow us to form Biafra una no gree, una talk say una love for us plenty sooteey, oya i come lagos as a forced one oilgerian and a drunk man from somewhere near a bin will threaten his unborn generation to be thrown to lagoon.... Eko A no man's land o

atlantic ocean straight..........i advice you man-made islands making maschines,,,,,,,no part of nigeria can be made biafra....history doesnt allow it........biafra is not based on facts,thats why it shall never exist in west-africa......

There are many Hausa, Edo, Benin and other tribes in Lagos making in without noise of no man's land. Its only the loudmouthed gala sellers making that rubbish noise everywhere. Empty and loudmouthed cowards.

They were crying when Fashola deported many of them back to there cursed land, they even cried to the UN when Oba Akiolu threatened them but they can only make mouth online. Shameless people.

emeritus856:



Buhahahaha. Chime Chukwuma is drunk. Yeebhoes has more population than Yoruba in Lagos. Ahahahahaha. See what malaria can cause to the body. Lmaoo

.

agabusta:


No need arguing with u. When u move around Lag interacting wt people, taking in the sights, sound and the different streets and places, nobody need tell u the owners of the land.

Lagos is no man's land...... If Yoruba people living there keep selling their lands to igbos, in 5 decades, it will become igbo land.

Fash20:
I can bet you that yo do not reside in Lag.

I bet u reside in ogbomosho.

Zoharariel:


And yet your preferred candidates [Jimi Agbaje & Bob Okey Okoroji] couldn't win the gubernatorial election?

My friend, you're a peruvian lizard. There can never be peace between Yoruba & Igbo.

Fashola n thienubu olopo eyes massively rigged the election to favor Ambode which was their candidate. They even went to the extent of making sure that most igbos never had access to their voters card.

Check wella, if igbos make up 5% of Lagos, what scared the lagoon commander into threatening the igbos on whom to vote

ibedun:


And they are still closing down your market and enslaving you in Yoruba land? Na war o!'

So why don' t you declare Lagos Igbo land? I dont blame you our foolish elders went to sleep and over tolerated you.

How many of you can afford to go home? Yet most of you are poor pitiful souls stuck in a single room somewhere in Ajegunle, Agege, Okoko etc. etc.

ur elders didn't sleep n over tolerated us, point is that there's hunger in ur land n u guys had no option than to sell ur land to us.

We don't need ur tolerance, Lagos is part of Nigeria n all citizens have equal right over there.

chuna1985:




ur elders didn't sleep n over tolerated us, point is that there's hunger in ur land n u guys had no option than to sell ur land to us.

We don't need ur tolerance, Lagos is part of Nigeria n all citizens have equal right over there.

Chime Chibuzor Chukwuma, Your foolishness and stupidity is legendary.